Theater and dance academy owner glad to be part of downtown redevelopment

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

Friday

Nov 24, 2017 at 3:54 PMNov 25, 2017 at 8:04 PM

TAUNTON — Jay Dorsey doesn't have a problem renting space to someone who is mainly focused on the arts. As a matter of fact he's delighted about it.

"I'm so happy she's in the building. It brings joy to me, and it's the kind of life that downtown needs," he said of Heidi Stipetic and her Applause Academy.

It's been eight years since Dorsey began leasing Stipetic space at 21 Main St. within what's known as Union Block, an interconnected series of six buildings extending from Merchants Lane to Weir Street.

Since that time, Stipetic has expanded what began strictly as a dance studio for children and young adults by establishing a performance theater specializing in musicals.

The theater next door at 25 Main St. has a stage 34 feet long and 16 feet deep. It's only a foot-and-a-half tall, which makes it easy for Stipetic and her students to hop on and off.

"It's a nice intimate theater," Stipetic said, describing the 137seating capacity venue, which is equipped with a sophisticated soundboard, LED lighting, a fog machine, an Arkaos software program — which provides a moving background behind the boys and girls on stage — and 30 wireless mics.

"We do almost 18 productions per year," said the 1979 Taunton High School grad and former New York University student, who in the 1980s studied acting in Manhattan with Stella Adler.

It takes three months to prepare, organize and present a show, which she said is typically sold out in advance.

Stipetic says she averages 80 kids in any given week who come through her doors after enrolling in the program.

There's a voice-instruction classroom with piano on the second floor, for students ages 13 and older, as well as an area designated for practicing choreography.

Stipetic says she covers all aspects of musical theater production, which is why there's a costume design room equipped with sewing machines.

She and her costume designer, Sue Hunter, buy fabric in New York so that students can create costumes for cast members. There's also a scenery shop to give students hands-on experience.

Students, she said, pay a monthly enrollment fee ranging from $25 to $150, depending on the number of individual classes.

Many of them, she says, are dropped off each week from Taunton schools via Bloom Bus vehicles. Others make the trip in from Rhode Island.

Stipetic says Applause Academy is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and, as such, relies on donations, fundraising events and state and local cultural grants.

It's only in the past two years, she said, that she's become a salaried employee.

She also said she's raised and distributed $7,000 in scholarships so far to students pursuing a college degree in musical theater.

"This is a very special place for kids," she said.

"It's great for kids who get the theater bug and want to do something instead of sports," Stipetic said. "A lot of kids have the arts in them, and we cultivate that."

Martin Middle School student Jillian Ostiguy, 12, said she's been enrolled at Applause Academy for five years.

"I'm socially awkward, but I've made friends here and learned to project my voice," Ostiguy said, adding that she "definitely" wants to work in professional theater when she gets older.

Stipetic, who was a founder in 2001 of the drama program at Benjamin Friedman Middle School, says she got the idea to open a musical-performance school on Main Street in 2009.

"I was walking around downtown and saw a "For Lease" sign," in Dorsey's building.

Since that time, she said, Dorsey has "supported our dream."

Stipetic said she initially took a $125,000 loan from Mechanics Cooperative Bank and has invested another $50,000 for capital expenses.

In addition to the hustle and bustle of studying various theater disciplines, students can relax, chat and snack at an in-house cafe adjacent to the theater.

Stipetic, whose maiden name is Schuttauf, said she met her husband Scott Stipetic when he was working as a lighting designer at Cape Cod Melody Tent.

After moving to Florida, where they taught theater classes in Miami-Dade County, Stipetic, who also did motivational speaking, said she and her husband returned to Taunton in 2001 after her father became ill.